Jay P seems to be giddy to be at the 11:00am start with a temperature around 35 degrees but also some sun!!! I was slightly less enthused but glad I came out to cast cheer and good wishes to all who attended.

There was some last minute uniform changing as some thought they had too much clothing, others thought too little. We headed northeast on a fine route designed by Gus Cook. We hung together except when encountering several ice/slush spots on Stone Quarry. I'm about a week away from heading west so at one point I walked my bike, just to make sure I stayed upright. Alas, the front 5-6 did not stop at the traditional regroup at the bottom of SQ so a 2nd group formed there. Later, we all regrouped at the end of Chatham and then rode into....

....St Louisville where the employee was less then thrilled to see the locusts swarm the store. We discovered a table inside and....

....after picking up necessities.....

....gathered around the table sharing stories, jokes, tall tales and lies. Just the usual stuff. Peggy Cook had a doughnut acquired from a Japanese bakery so broke it into pieces and shared. Not bad but won't replace the American glazed any time soon.

Starting with around 21-22 cyclists, approximately 10 bid good-by at the end of Concorde and then 11 stayed the course to the food stop and beyond. Above, Rich Lewis, Larry P and Tym T stuff their faces, as did we all. We shuffled back into the cold and headed onto Weaver and then Reynolds where....

....we paused to regroup at the top of the Reynolds Climb on Marion Road.

Paul D wearing his game face. We shoved off and soon after turning right on Dutch Lane, Jeff S had a flat so Cindy, Gus, Peggy and me hung back and then our group of 5 rode back in, finishing with 65 miles and a 17mph average. It was good to get out, of course.

And here we have it, courtesy of Gus Cook, 11:00am from behind Starbucks in New Albany. B paced ride for the majority but go faster or slower, who cares. One stop at mile 29 in St Louisville.https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24869202